5 Symptoms of a Broken Bone

Is it broken? Here are the five most important symptoms of a broken bone.

Broken Skin and Protruding Bone
A bone protruding from the skin can occur in severe breaks and is an emergency situation. The protruding bone is not only extremely painful but may be at risk for infection if not treated properly.

Swelling
The area around a broken bone will usually swell due to bleeding in the surrounding tissue. Swelling usually lasts between two and three weeks.

Bruising
Often, a bruise will appear at the site of the break or fracture.

Severe Pain
Though the bone itself has no pain receptors, a broken bone usually leads to severe pain due to swelling of the surrounding soft tissues and a break in the membrane that lines the outer surface of the bone. Muscle spasms, nerve or vessel damage, and other damage from the injury may also cause pain.

Limited Mobility
A broken bone usually leads to limited to mobility in the area affected.

If you have any of the above symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately. X-rays may be performed to determine whether there is a break or fracture present and the extent of the injury. CT scans may also be used in more complicated or hard to diagnose cases.

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